CB00-FF.10 August 30, 2000
Grandparents Day 2000: September 10
To mark the celebration of Grandparents Day, the Census Bureau has culled
from its statistical reports the following data on grandparents. (Unless
otherwise indicated, the statistics are for 1997.)
- Nearly 4.7 million of the nation's grandparents lived with their
grandchildren. Four-fifths (79 percent) of these grandparents maintained
the household in which the grandchildren lived. The remainder lived in
households maintained by their own children -- the parents
of the grandchildren.
- All told, 2.9 million grandmothers lived with their grandchildren:
2.3 million in homes they maintained and 636,000 in homes maintained
by their sons or daughters. Some 1.7 million grandfathers resided with
their grandchildren: 1.4 million in homes they maintained and 344,000
in homes maintained by their sons or daughters.
- About 5.4 million children nationwide lived with their grandparents;
these children comprised 8 percent of all children in the United States.
Of these children, 3.9 million lived in homes maintained by their
grandparents and 1.5 million lived in homes maintained by their
parents. The number of children residing in homes maintained by
grandparents represents increases of 641,000 since 1992 and
1.6 million since 1980.
- The following chart compares the characteristics of two different types
of grandparents who live with their grandchildren: those who
maintained their own homes and those residing in homes maintained
by their sons or daughters.
| Grandparents who maintained their own homes |
Grandparents in homes maintained by their son or daughter |
| Only 21 percent of the grandfathers and 15 percent of the
grandmothers were 65 or older. |
Fifty-six percent of the grandfathers and 50 percent of grandmothers
were 65 or older. |
| A majority of both grandfathers (72 percent) and grandmothers
(56 percent) were employed in 1996. |
Only 33 percent of the grandfathers and 24 percent of the
grandmothers were employed in 1996. |
| About 36 percent of both grandfathers and grandmothers were
in "excellent" or "very good" health. |
About 27 percent of both grandfathers and grandmothers were
in "excellent" or "very good" health.
|
| The majority of grandfathers (90 percent) and grandmothers
(56 percent) were married and living with their spouse. |
A minority of grandfathers (38 percent) and grandmothers (21
percent) were married and
living with their spouse. |
Further information on this subject is available on the Internet at:
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/1999/cb99-115.html.
The preceding facts come from the Current Population Survey. The data are
subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Previous
Census Bureau Facts for Features this year: African American History Month
(February), Valentine's Day (February 14), Women's History Month (March),
Census Day, 2000 (April 1), Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May),
Mother's Day (May 14), Father's Day (June 18), the Fourth of July and Back
to School (August). Questions or comments should be directed to the Census
Bureau's Public Information Office (Tel: 301-457-3030; Fax: 301-457-3670;
E-mail: pio@census.gov).
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